Updated QB Power Rankings After NFL Week 1

Week 1 of the NFL regular season is officially in the books, and all the quarterback performances have been tallied up. To provide some context into this QB power ranking, here is a brief explanation of how the list is created, as well as how it will evolve throughout the season. 

Every current starting quarterback in the NFL will be considered and valued through numerous categories, each weighted differently as the season progresses. Considering we're in the early stages of 2013, I am currently putting more weight into last year's performances along with this year’s preseason (of which I have watched every game).

In addition, I have given consideration to a quarterback's long history of stellar play by factoring in their total career "Approximate Value," courtesy of Pro Football Reference; as well as giving points for Super Bowl victories. 

After that, I factor in several key attributes to the quarterback position such as intelligence, arm strength and accuracy, athleticism and leadership. 

Wins throughout this season will also give quarterbacks a slight boost in addition to their individual performances based on several metrics ranging from basic to advanced. The sources for these statistics will come exclusively via ESPN.com, NFL.com and ProFootballFocus (subscription required), unless stated otherwise. Personal observation and opinion will also play a key role each and every week. 

32. Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville Jaguars

Last Week: 32nd

Needless to say the Jaguars’ 28-2 manhandling was less than inspiring for the Jacksonville faithful. Quarterback Blaine Gabbert has been nothing but disappointing through his first two seasons in the NFL. Those trends continued Sunday with another abysmal performance.

Gabbert ended his day with a laceration on his throwing hand but sputtered his way to 16 completions on 35 pass attempts with two interceptions and no touchdown passes. Those numbers contributed to his horrendous 30.2 passer rating, which happened to be the worst of the day.

"

"

Gabbert's cut is pretty bad. #Jaguarspic.twitter.com/cGYSjK6xcu

— The System (@tealtalk) September 9, 2013

"

"

Gabbert is expected to miss next week’s game due to the cut on his hand, but his status as a spectator could be more permanent should backup Chad Henne thrive in his absence.

31. Brandon Weeden, Cleveland Browns

Last Week: 29th

The big reason for Brandon Weeden's fall to nearly last place was that his preseason stats were given less weight after Week 1. Going off his preseason performance alone, it seemed there was reason to hope for a much-improved version of Weeden—especially with the addition of Norv Turner as the offensive coordinator.

Sunday proved those sentiments to be unfounded as Mr. Weeden resorted back to his old self. The second-year pro struggled when under pressure and couldn’t get comfortable all day as he completed less than 50 percent of his passes to go with three interceptions. 

"

Weeden is 6'4" and turns every d-line into J.J. Watt. Led NFL in batted passes last year, had 4 more Sunday + 6 sacks. 4-of-13 on 3rd downs

— Chris Wesseling (@ChrisWesseling) September 9, 2013"

Weeden may be the one element holding this young, talented Browns team back from contention in the AFC North. If he fails to impress the new regime in Cleveland, this could be his final year on the roster.

30. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Last Week: 26th 

Josh Freeman completed 15-of-31 passes for 210 yards and one touchdown. 

If Josh Freeman isn’t worried about his future with the Buccaneers next season, he should be. If he isn’t concerned about losing his starting job to rookie Mike Glennon if he continues to play poorly, then he's living in a bubble.

Greg Schiano has no sense of commitment with Freeman, who he inherited from the previous regime. Mike Glennon was brought in to provide competition at QB but may end up taking the starting job before the season is over.

Freeman has continued to show little ability in the decision making-department despite his rocket arm and impressive frame. He looks the part of a franchise quarterback but failed to even receive enough votes from his teammates for a team captain spot this year.

So far it looks like the Bucs made the right decision electing not to extend his contract as he enters the final year of his rookie deal.

29. Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings

Last Week: 27th

The Vikings’ offense lives and dies by the legs of running back Adrian Peterson. There are reasons the coaching staff has yet to put its trust on the arm of 25-year-old Christian Ponder.

Ponder threw three picks in Minnesota’s loss on Sunday against the Detroit Lions. His inability to get the ball downfield with any consistency has made it hard for him to shake the “game manager” stigma. But even that label may be too generous for the quarterback who can’t even prevent turnovers.

All signs seem to be pointing toward Ponder as a first-round bust for the Vikings, and time is running out for him to prove otherwise. 

28. Geno Smith, New York Jets

Last Week: 30th

Geno got his first NFL start last weekend against the Buccaneers and showed that although he looked like a rookie at times in the early parts of the game, he eventually churned out an impressive performance in their win over the Buccaneers. 

This is the type of win that builds some much-needed confidence for the young signal caller and helps him to win over the respect of his teammates. 

At the very least, Geno should be a significant upgrade from Mark Sanchez as he helps keep hope alive for gang green in 2013. Rex seems to understand now that the rookie does in fact give him the best chance to keep his job another year.   

"

 

"

27. Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans

Last Week: 28th

Some things never seem to change about certain players. Jake Locker has shown no signs of improved accuracy, which means the Titans are going to have to be clever on offense if they want to continue their winning ways.

Locker completed only 11 passes on the day for no touchdowns, yet somehow this was just enough to come away with a major upset victory of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Though his stats were rather unimpressive, he did finish in the upper half of the league in Total QBR with a score of 61.2. That's good enough to push his status up a spot heading into Week 2. 

26. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

Last Week: 24th

In the last two seasons, only Mark Sanchez has generated more turnovers than Philip Rivers according to AFC West Blogger Bill Williamson in an interview on ESPN's NFL Live. 

Philip Rivers almost had the late-night crowd believing he was a changed man Monday night against the Texans after they took a promising 28-7 lead. During that span, Rivers looked more like his old self than he had in a long time. But the Texans managed to claw back into this contest thanks in part to Rivers and his untimely turnover in crunch time.

According to Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com, the Chargers had 10 yards total and an interception on their last 5 drives.

On the bright side, Rivers did throw for four touchdowns and almost handed the Texans a huge upset. But in the NFL, “almost” doesn’t count for much.

25. Terrelle Pryor, Oakland Raiders

Last Week: 31st

The Oakland Raiders gave the Colts nearly all they could handle Sunday in a close contest.

At the end of the day, one thing became abundantly clear: Dennis Allen made the right choice on who his starting quarterback should be heading into Week 1.

Pryor’s athleticism was on full display in Indianapolis as he scrambled for over 100 yards on the day. What was more impressive was his ability to keep his eyes downfield and make several nice passes. Going into this game, most people would never believe that Pryor could complete 65 percent of his passes.

Though he still has a long way to go, this young kid has the makings of a potential star in the NFL. He definitely seems determined based on effort alone. Raiders’ fans finally have a quarterback to be excited about.

24. Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals

Last Week: 25th

"

I know everyone is watching #SFvsGB, but Carson Palmer is having himself a day in Arizona.

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) September 8, 2013"

Carson Palmer and the Arizona Cardinals may not have won the game, but they did show a ton of promise against the St. Louis Rams, allowing a modest four sacks on the day. This was one of the key areas of improvement surrounding the Cardinals.

Carson has rarely demonstrated any consistency in the latter part of his career, but will need to do so if the Cardinals are to have any hope in the ultra-competitive NFC West.

23. EJ Manuel, Buffalo Bills

Last Week: 22nd

Last week I received a pretty decent amount of criticism for ranking EJ Manuel at 22nd. Well, at the very least he has utilized his debut performance to justify that his value was indeed in the proper range here. 

"Poised" is the word to describe him.

I haven't seen that type of quality performance and potential from a Bills QB since I was a kid. Bills fans have to feel good about their shiny new toy.

Manuel nearly pulled off the upset over the New England Patriots last Sunday, playing more like a seasoned veteran than a rookie in completing 66 percent of his passes with a passer rating of 105.5. His most impressive stat of the day, though, had to be that he managed to avoid throwing a single interception in his first NFL start. 

Though EJ did have a good game, he simply wasn't able to hold onto his spot at 22. His drop to 23rd was more about the some impressive outings of other quarterbacks rather than his poor play, namely Mike Vick. 

22. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

Last Week: 13th

Some of you out there, like Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman (see video), may believe that Joe Flacco is rated too low on this list considering he is fresh off of his impressive Super Bowl run. But the fact of the matter is that Flacco has rarely played well in the regular season. Last Thursday’s loss was no different.

Joe had one of the worst passer ratings of the week, falling just under 70. This definitely contributed to his free-fall from the 13th to the 22nd spot.

One of the big issues for Baltimore that should continue throughout the year is they have no receivers to throw the ball to. This should only cause Mr. Flacco to struggle more than ever. Don’t be shocked if he ends up with one of the least productive seasons of his career.

21. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

Last Week: 21st

Matthew Stafford is asked to do a lot with his arm in the Detroit Lions offense. This week he responded with a 65 percent completion rate while throwing for 357 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

Stafford may not be the most efficient QB in the league, but he does have a rare ability to sling it deep and push the ball down the field. This helped him guide his Lions to a big-time win over the Minnesota Vikings.

For now, Stafford will stay put at 21 but could push his way into the teens with a solid performance in Week 2. 

20. Mike Vick, Philadelphia Eagles

Last Week: 20th

Chip Kelly’s offense seems to be perfectly suited for Mike Vick. Vick showed off his laser arm and  quick feet all night against Washington.

It may be safe to say that the Michael Vick experience is officially back. Vick passed for two touchdowns, rushed for another and had over 250 combined yards of offense. Aside from his backward pass which was ruled a fumble, Vick stayed turnover free on the day while completed 60 percent of his passes in the impressive win over their divisional foes.

"

S/O to homie @MikeVick for this show they putting on right now!! Looking like them St. Louis Rams "Greatest Show on Turf" squad

— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 10, 2013"

Now all he needs to do is find a way to stay healthy.

19. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

Last Week: 23rd

Dalton looked impressive slinging the ball downfield to his favorite target A.J. Green. He did throw two costly interceptions in that process but flashed much more good than anything else.

I was personally impressed with the velocity of his throws and his ability to hit his targets from all over the field. This offense is definitely much more explosive than it was a year ago, and a large part of that has to be attributed to the maturation of Andy Dalton.

Dalton and the Bengals have all the tools in place for a stellar offensive season. It's just a matter of having all the pieces fall into place at this point.  

18. Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins

Last Week: 15th

Ryan Tannehill may not have had the gaudy numbers of other quarterbacks this week, but he did manage to get a win on the road against a talented Cleveland team.

Tannehill showed improvement as he was asked to shoulder a much larger role in the offense than a year ago. He responded with only one interception and 272 yards through the air.

Eventually he’ll need to incorporate his expensive new receiver into the mix or suffer the consequence of having a disgruntled diva causing a distraction.

His performance was solid but could not compete with some other QBs who passed him up on the rankings this week.

17. Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams

Last Week: 19th

"

Get ready for Sam Bradford's ascent. He finally has a couple of weapons and some talent around him. Not coincidentally, strong day today.

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) September 9, 2013

"

Sam Bradford is still trying to get familiar with all of his new toys at this stage in the process. He played well against a tough Cardinals’ defense, completing over 70 percent of his passes and throwing for just under 300 yards.

The biggest stat on the day happened to be that he and his teammates got a pivotal win against a dangerous divisional opponent.

Bradford is slowly coming along as he takes critical steps to become one of the league’s best quarterbacks. Having time to throw the ball and guys who can make plays after the catch should help his cause.

16. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears

Last Week: 18th

The Chicago Bears have retooled the front office and inserted an entirely new system under new head coach Marc Trestman.

Jay Cutler seemed to catch on rather quickly as he guided his team to a difficult victory over the Bengals.

Though far from perfect, Cutler was solid when it mattered most, finishing fourth in the league with a Total QBR of 85.7. Cutler even managed to look good scrambling at times and avoided his usual tendency to throw passes into tight coverage.

So far the tandem of Trestman and Cutler seems to be working out rather nicely.

15. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

Last Week: 14th

Cam Newton failed to get the ball downfield against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday as he threw for only 125 yards on 23 passes. This is likely to be an ongoing issue all season long when you consider who the Panthers have at wide receiver and the question marks which continue to surround Cam’s accuracy and ability to read defenses.

Newton’s rushing production was also stymied by one of the stingier defenses in the NFL.

On the bright side, No. 1 did a nice job avoiding turnovers in what turned out to be a hard-fought defensive battle. He gave his team a chance to win against one of the most talented rosters in the league.

As a result, he drops one slot heading into Week 2. 

14. Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

Last Week: 17th

Alex Smith traded jerseys and conferences to become the starting quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs this year under new head coach Andy Reid.

Smith looked like his usual game-manager self as he failed to throw for over 200 yards on the day. Not that he needed to considering the Jaguars were held to only two points all game.

One of the biggest issues surrounding Alex Smith seems to be his inability to get the ball downfield. Perhaps his conservative nature — or maybe lack of arm strength — but for whatever reason, he will need to take chances that yield positive results if Kansas City is thinking about making a run at the playoffs this year.

13. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans

Last Week: 16th

Aside from falling behind early Monday night, Matt Schaub was having a terrific night in San Diego. He seemed to be pressing the ball downfield much more than usual and looked extremely proficient in all phases of the game.

This was one of the better comeback performances by a quarterback in a while as he and the Texans refused to panic or even alter the game plan, despite being down 28-7 in the third quarter.

Schaub finished on the day with over 75 percent passing and 346 yards through the air, to go along with three touchdown passes and one interception. That was good enough for a passer rating of 110 and perhaps more importantly, a victory; which came in the final march down the field to break a tie game.

Schaub is definitely a quarterback on the rise.  

12. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys

Last Week: 12th

The Cowboys are off to a nice start after beating their divisional rivals, the Giants. Quarterback Tony Romo found his most reliable target in tight end Jason Witten for two scores on the day as he finished with a completion percentage of 73.

One thing this QB is not short of this year is weapons on offense. The pass protection was expected to be much worse than what showed up on game day, which had to be somewhat of a relief for Romo.

Tony is a polarizing player who most either love or hate. Bottom line here is that he gave us all more reasons to love him on the big stage last Sunday night.  

11. Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins

Last Week: 9th

Only nine months removed from major knee surgery, Robert Griffin III clearly lacked the polish, precision and athleticism he used to wow the nation a season ago.

It was quite obvious at times that he just didn’t fully trust his restructured knee by the way he refused to step into his throws or follow through with his throwing motion. He also looked noticeably slower and didn’t have the same burst we saw around this time last year.

This first game back for RG3 was clearly not the type of return he had hoped for, but he did seem to get more comfortable as the game went on.

The big question here is—how long will Griffin III continue to avoid scrambling and remain a pure pocket passer?

If this is the style of play we can expect throughout the season, RG3 is likely going to end up dropping a few more spots before it’s all said and done.  

10. Eli Manning, New York Giants

Last Week: 10th

Eli Manning may have lost against the Cowboys in the season opener, but he still managed to have a highly productive game, finishing with 450 yards passing and a passer rating over 100. But on the negative end of that performance, he also threw three interceptions and had a Total QBR of just 27.6 according to ESPN.com. That puts him near the bottom in that category. 

Manning needs to be careful not to return to the old version of himself—basically the guy who would consistently throw for multiple-interception games with reckless play and mental errors. If that pattern reemerges, we can expect a steady decent into the middle of the pack on the weekly power rankings.

"

 

"

9. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts

Last Week: 8th 

"

We asked which young QB is best in crunch time. Here are the fans' rankings: 1. Luck 35% 2. Kaepernick 29% 3. Wilson 20% 4. RGIII 16%

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 9, 2013"

One of the most critical elements to consider with Andrew Luck is the level of talent he’s surrounded by on the Colts roster. Yet despite the obvious lack of manpower, particularly on the offensive line, Luck continues to find a way to will his team to victory.

This kid is the complete package in terms of his ability to scramble, read defenses and throw accurately downfield. 

Don’t be surprised if we’re talking about Luck as an elite quarterback by the end of the year.

8. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Last Week: 6th

Bleacher Report's own Mike Freeman may be a believer in Ben Roethlisberger thanks in part to his offseason of kayaking (see video), but his Week 1 performance against Tennessee was definitely not smooth sailing. 

But when dealing with a guy like Big Ben, it's best not to put too much stock in a single game. 

Roethlisberger failed to throw for 200 yards on Sunday and finished his day with one of the worst Total QBR ratings in the NFL. 

If these types of outings become commonplace, Mike Tomlin could be coaching his final year in Pittsburgh, while Big Ben would eventually go the way of his fellow draft class representative, Philip Rivers. 

7. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

Last Week: 11th

Sunday’s win against the Carolina Panthers wasn’t pretty, but it was the type of win you need to have in the NFL from time to time.

Russell Wilson did manage to throw for over 300 yards while completing nearly 76 percent of his passes. In addition, the second-year pro didn’t throw a single interception.

Wilson is definitely a quarterback on the rise in this league. It should be interesting to see what his ceiling is given his height limitation. He could be paving the way for smaller guys for years to come. 

6. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers

Last Week: 7th

Colin Kaepernick picked up right where he left off last season in the season opener against Green Bay. With lingering questions about his ability in the pocket heading into the season, the third-year quarterback seems to be proving his doubters wrong.  

This may be premature, but it's something that needs to be considered...

Perhaps the best quarterback didn't lose Sunday at Candlestick Park. This is not to say Kaepernick has earned the right to be considered better than Aaron Rodgers, but if he continues to outplay him in head-to-head matchups, that day may soon arrive. 

Colin Kaepernick is one of the most dynamic playmakers at the quarterback position in the NFL. His ability to beat defenses with either his arm or his legs in uncanny. He's sure to give coordinators nightmares for the rest of the year.

5. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Last Week: 5th

Matt Ryan seemed to pick up right where he left off, minus one little detail—he failed to get the “W.”

Statistically speaking, though, Ryan showed us why he is one of the premiere quarterbacks in the NFL. Then again, so was the guy on the other sideline.

Few were surprised that this matchup between the Saints and Falcons turned out to be an offensive showdown. Matt Ryan finished the game in a similar way to how he finished the 2012 season: fourth down in the red zone and needing one play to win the game. Unfortunately on the play before, Steven Jackson had a crucial drop that would have won the game.

It’s hard to blame Ryan for that loss with the way he played. But he’ll need to step his game up all around to climb the ranks into the top 4.

4. Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Last Week: 3rd

The New England Patriots had their hands full Sunday against the revamped Buffalo Bills. Attaining a victory in this hard-fought contest required a signature game-winning drive by Tom Brady.

Brady struggled at times throughout the day but looked great in the clutch when it mattered most.

This was not the most impressive performance for Brady or the Patriots, but in the end, they did get the win.

In a league with exciting young athletes taking over the quarterback position, Tom Brady represents the old school pocket passer—but few, if anyone, does it better in the NFL.

3. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Last Week: 1st

Losing the road opener to the 49ers didn’t help his case for the top spot—especially considering he was outplayed by Colin Kaepernick while seeming rusty at times.

Rodgers may have a promising weapon on the ground with rookie Eddie Lacy. Lacy may be just what this often-sacked QB needs to take some of the pressure off of him.

With all that said, it’s not as if No.12 had a bad game. He did throw for three touchdowns with a passer rating over 100.

Don’t be surprised in Aaron reclaims his top spot after redeeming himself next week. If time has proven one thing, it’s that Aaron Rodgers rarely drops back-to-back games. Since 2009, Rodgers has only lost twice in a row on two different occasions. 

It's worth noting that during that same span of time, no quarterback has been more impressive than he has. 

2. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

 Last Week: 4th

"

Drew Brees throws over the top better than any QB in the league. Period.

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) September 8, 2013

"

Drew Brees continued his mastery of the quarterback position with a tough win over the division rival Falcons. Brees is one of the best at getting the ball downfield—which he did plenty of on Sunday while throwing for 357 yards and averaging over 10 yards per pass.

For a guy who likes to take chances deep, he still manages to protect the ball relatively well.

If the Saints can provide any help on defense, they could see a return to the playoffs in 2013.  

1. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos

Last Week: 2nd

Peyton Manning put on quite the show in his Thursday night opener against the Super Bowl Champion Ravens, throwing for seven touchdowns passes and no interceptions.

Manning and the Broncos are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball and should be the team to beat in the AFC.

Manning has clearly established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history and still seems to have just enough arm strength remaining to shred up defenses with his experience and understanding of favorable matchups.

This type of historic performance makes it hard not to slot the old man in at No. 1 and push the up and coming Rodgers down a notch.

Ryan Riddle is a former NFL player and current Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

Follow @Ryan_Riddle